Moorestown High School Students Nab Top Spots in RCBC Startup Business Plan Competition

Moorestown, NJ -- Moorestown High School took the top two spots in the high school division of Rowan College at Burlington County’s Startup Star business plan competition, the college announced on Thursday.

Milan Mirchandani, David Shore, Ryan McCarthy, Michael Vanaria, and Brett Seifreid took first place for their GPS golf ball tracking system proposal at the event Tuesday night at the college’s Enterprise Center on the Mount Laurel campus.

Caroline Mabrey, Abby McCullough, Ali Simone, and Jackie Skarbek placed second for their healthy and allergen-free suburban brick and mortar business idea, “In the Mix Bakery.”

Alexandra Gleason from Shawnee High School took third for her multi-channeled, digital micropipette concept, which is used to measure and transfer small amounts of liquid in laboratories.

“Rowan College at Burlington County’s Startup Star competition is meant to inspire and educate young people with entrepreneurial aspirations,” Rowan College at Burlington County President Paul Drayton said. “Through our premier partnership with Rowan University and their bachelor’s of science in business administration available to our students in fall 2017, RCBC is uniquely positioned to prepare these future business leaders to achieve their dreams.”

About 70 business plan submissions were whittled down to two finalists in the Rowan College at Burlington County student category and six finalists from Burlington County high schools.

Prizes were awarded to the first and second place college participants and first through third place high school finalists.

Finalists presented their concepts to an audience and answered questions from a panel of business experts, including:

• South Jersey Market President of TD Bank Rob Curley;
• Dean of Rowan University’s William G. Rohrer College of Business Dr. Sue Lehrman;
• Director of Business Development for Parts Life, Inc. Sheila Harris-Adams;
• Entrepreneur, owner of nine automotive dealerships and RCBC Foundation Board member Wayne Hileman;
• President/Owner of Alpha Graphics of Cherry Hill and SJimages.biz David Jackson; and
• Senior Enterprise Relationship Manager for LinkedIn’s Large Enterprise Solutions division Glenn Manko.

“This competition perfectly captures what we at the County have sought to accomplish when it comes to workforce development; bringing together leaders from our private sector and academic institutions to foster the ingenuity of our jobseekers and provide them with the tools for successful careers,” Burlington County Freeholder Deputy Director Kate Gibbs said. “As Freeholders, we are proud of the impressive efforts demonstrated by all those who participated and look forward to supporting continued entrepreneurial education through the college.”

The Grand Prize went to Marlton resident and Cherokee High School student Jabriel Crawford-Bell for his College App concept that connects prospective students and colleges like popular dating applications.

Daniela Velez, Jasvir Gill and Josh Eberle took first place in the college division for their “Netwon’s Bench” concept, which is a kit of materials that enables students to take college-level physics courses online and perform the lab portion at home.

“Whether you are in high school or college, or you are an employer looking for a trained workforce, Rowan College at Burlington County and the RCBC Workforce Development Institute can help you reach your goals through career certificates, workshops, customized training programs and events like the Startup Star business plan competition, which connects students to experts in the field of business and teaches them the fundamentals of sound business plans,” Rowan College at Burlington County Vice President of Workforce Development and Lifelong Learning Anna Payanzo Cotton said.

The attached images were provided by Rowan College at Burlington County:

Photo 1: Moorestown High School students Milan Mirchandani, David Shore, Ryan McCarthy, Michael Vanaria, and Brett Seifreid took first place in the high school division.

Photo 2: Moorestown High School students Caroline Mabrey, Abby McCullough, Ali Simone, and Jackie Skarbek placed second.